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Steven Davis: Northern Ireland lacked belief against Poland

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Northern Ireland will kick off their opening group game of the European Championships in around half an hour, where they will take on Poland in what should be a tight encounter.

It was no more than Poland deserved.

O’Neill felt that his side done well to stay in the game until the end but acknowledged that his team did not deserve anything from the game.

Northern Ireland Michael McGovern also kept the score down when he fended off a powerful shot from 19-year-old winger Bartosz Kapustka. This team has played the total number of 10 matches and out of that Poland has won 6 matches and managed to draw a single game and the remaining 3 matches resulted in the draw. The Bayern hitman will be shouldering a lot of pressure to perform but if his form in the past couple of years is anything to go by, we are in for a goalscoring treat. We reached qualification in very good style.

Poland’s win was its first ever at a European Championship following two disappointing displays in the last two tournaments.

Decades since Poland or Northern Ireland made a mark at an worldwide football competition, both teams will be looking to get their European Championship campaigns off to a strong start on Sunday when they play each other in Group C. He was not expected to be in the team, but replaced the injured Kamil Grosicki and did his job very well, giving Adam Nawałka a selection headache ahead of the Germany game.

“We’ve no doubts whatsoever about Kyle’s fitness”, O’Neill said. “I thought Poland were excellent”.

Although Northern Ireland possess the potential to frustrate Poland, the Polish national team will be keen secure a maiden victory at a Euro tournament and perhaps lay the foundation for future glory down the track – they certainly possess the squad to leave a big mark in France.

Though Poland dominated large stretches of the match, it will likely need to convert more of the chances it makes to get past Germany.

He joins Peter Doherty and Billy Bingham as one of only three managers to lead the province out at a major tournament, but is confident his players will grab their chance.

“I am here in France a the moment”, she said.

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Robert Lewandowski’s first game of the Euros will come against Northern Ireland.

Adam Nurkiewicz  Getty Images